Ulmaceae (family)

Family containing 15 genera of trees and shrubs distributed primarily throughout temperate regions, having watery sap and leaves that alternate along the stem. The leaves usually have toothed edges and often are lopsided at the base. The flowers lack petals. Male and female flowers are borne together or apart on the same plant. The fruit, a samara, may be winged, fleshy, or nutlike. In earlier classifications, the family was placed in the former order Urticales.